Sport
Cresselly edge ahead in title race
CRESSELLY edged ahead in the Division 1 title race on Saturday (Jul 30) as they beat St Ishmaels by 60 runs.
Tish won the toss and chose to bat but they could only watch on as Cresselly again reached 300 runs.
Adam Chandler and Simon Cole shared 100 runs for the first wicket but Chandler was first out when he was caught by Jordan Millich off the bowling of Andrew Pawlett.
Cole and Iwan Izzard continued to push the score on as they added another 151 runs for the second wicket.
Both passed their half centuries but it was Izzard, who had hit four fours and two sixes in his score of 53 from 38 balls, who was next to go when he was caught by Brennan Devonald off the bowling of Millich.
Cole had hit 18 fours and five sixes but his excellent knock of 142 was eventually brought to an end when he was caught by Devonald off the bowling of Millich.
Tish then took more wickets as they looked to keep the score down. Peter Bradshaw had the wicket of Nicky Cope and he was followed back by Ryan Lewis who was bowled by Millich.
Millich then trapped Dan James leg before as Cresselly were reduced to 293-6.
Alex Bayley was then also out, having made a score of 16, when he was stumped by Huw Scriven off the bowling of Bradshaw.
Tom Murphy hit two late fours to take Cresselly to their total of 304-7 before declaring after 38 overs.
Tish knew they would need to make a good start if they were to reach that total but they lost opener Daniel Richards when he was trapped leg before by Ryan Lewis.
Peter Bradshaw and Karl Rhead added 52 runs for the second wicket but Cresselly struck again as Charlie Arthur bowled Rhead on a score of 15.
Bradshaw and Brennan Devonald then shared 135 runs for the third wicket as they looked to keep their side in with a chance of victory.
Bradshaw hit ten fours in his score of 72 but he was trapped leg before by Nicky Cope.
Tom Murphy then had Phil Cockburn caught by Lewis as Tish’s innings began to stall.
Devonald reached his century but he then saw Jonathan Pawlett caught by Alex Bayley off the bowling of Murphy on a score of 12.
Jordan Millich was then bowled by Nicky Cope as Tish were reduced to 217-6.
Devonald had hit 12 fours and five sixes in his score of 108 from 85 balls but he was caught by Neilson Cole off the bowling of Murphy.
That all but ended any hopes Tish had of victory and Cresselly went on to close the game out.
Lewis trapped Huw Scriven leg before and Ieuan Hawkins caught by Neilson Cole before Andrew Pawlett was bowled by Arthur on a score of 16.
That saw Tish bowled out for 244 and gave Cresselly victory by 60 runs.
Cresselly now have a 13-point lead over nearest challengers Carew with three games left to play.
On Saturday, August 6, Cresselly travel to Pembroke Dock while St Ishmaels host Llangwm.
Sport
Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double
Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.
Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.
The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.
Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.
Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.
The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.
Sport
Swifts eyes on double.
Monkton Swifts reserves have blown away the second division this season and now have the double in their sights. They face Merlins Bridge reserves in the semi final of the second division cup and lived up to their favourites tag.
Swifts won comfortably with key player Butland getting three assists and Josh Sture grabbing a brace. Waterman and Rhys Sture added the other goals as outstanding Monkton won 4-0.
Herbrandston and Johnston played in the other semi final and this was a much harder fixture to call. The promoted Herbie a younger and perhaps less physical outfit in comparison to the Tigers. Johnston quickly took control of the game when they found themselves two up after just 29 minutes.
However when Scott Murray was shown a red card just eight minutes later, Herbie would have been confident of staging a comeback. Despite being a man light, Johnston held Herbie until the final minute of the 90, when Alex Ouzman gave Herbie late hope. The Tigers held firm however and progress to the final where they will be underdogs. A tag that I’m sure the players and manager Steven Allen won’t mind too much.
Sport
Tenby hit five against downbeat Bridge
On a beautiful day in Tenby, the hosts welcomed Merlins Bridge to The Clicketts, fresh from their West Wales semi final defeat midweek.
The Bridge squad was missing some influential players after picking up some injuries and the visiting team asked questions over the fitness of the pitch, which, according to the Bridge management, was too hard.
The referee waved these away and the game was on, with the Tenby squad clearly thinking they were already in the heads of the Bridge team.
Almost straight from Kick off Tenby set their stall out with some great attacking play, which Jerome Mansbridge benefitted from in just the second minute putting the home team ahead.
The bridge players weren’t at the races and Tenby capitalised scoring a further 4 first half goals, including a Mansbridge hat trick, leaving the away team bewildered and 5-0 down at half time.
What could have been a hugely embarrassing defeat for a team that harboured title hopes at the beginning of the season, turned around somewhat at half time, when Dai Davies, the club captain, almost singlehandedly dragged them to a much higher level in the second half, ensuring his players kept their discipline and worked hard against a very good Tenby team. Undoubtedly Merlin’s Bridge were the better team in the second period, but the damage had already been done in the first half, and despite Bridges best efforts, the score remained 5-0 to the home team.
In a game which saw Tenby jump to 4th in the league, they can be hugely proud of their season and will look to build on that for their next in Division one.
A fantastic game on a beautiful day with a good home crowd watching, the team from the Clicketts will be justifiably happy with their afternoons work.
Tenby 5-0 Merlins Bridge.
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